software update - page 2

iPod Nano, Just Out In Stores, Already Has A Software Update

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This is gonna need a fix before you can use it.
This is gonna need a fix before you can use it.

The just-released seventh generation iPod nano has just started being seen in stores and shipping from online pre-orders, but it already has a software update waiting for it. If you get a new iPod nano and plug it into iTunes to set it up and sync, you’ll likely see a new update that you’ll need to apply before you can use it.

Verizon iPhone 5 Gets New Update To Fix Frustrating Wi-Fi Bug [Updated]

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The iPhone continues to do well on Verizon.
Update your Verizon iPhone 5 now to save your data.

Apple has issued its first software update to the iPhone 5 just over a week after the handset was released — but you’ll only see it if you’re on Verizon. No, the update doesn’t make Maps work. Instead, it “resolves an issue in which, under certain circumstances, iPhone 5 may use Verizon cellular data while the phone is connected to a Wi-Fi network.”

Bypass the Mac App Store to update Mountain Lion software

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Terminal softwareupdate

The Mac App store provides a nice, simple, graphical way to keep your Mac updated with the latest software, letting you know when system updates as well as Apple and third-party apps have a new update to be downloaded and installed.

If you don’t want to use the Mac App store, though, you can use the Terminal app along with some Terminal commands to do the same thing. When would you use this? Well, maybe when the Mac App store gets wonky, or if you’re not at the current Mac, and want to securely and remotely administer the Mac in question, that’s when.

It’s fairly simple. Here’s how.

Apple Releases iOS 6 To The Public — Download It Now!

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It's finally here.
It's finally here.

Apple has finally released iOS 6 to the public, more than three months after the software was first previewed at WWDC. It brings more than 200 new features to the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, including Apple’s brand new Maps and Passbook apps, Facebook integration, FaceTime over cellular, enhancements to Siri, Mail, and Phone, and lots, lots more.

Apple Drops iTunes, Old Software Updates for PowerPC Macs [Vintage News]

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iTunes_Evolution.jpg
iTunes icons through the years.

PowerPC-based Macs have long been considered dead and buried by Apple, but the company just put a few more nails in the coffin to prevent any corpse risings. With the release of iTunes 10.7 this week the ubiquitous media control center becomes Intel-only, requiring at least a Core Solo processor and Mac OS X 10.6.8.

In a related one-two punch, Apple has also stopped providing online Software Updates for Mac OS X versions 10.0 through 10.3, as well as Mac OS 9. These items are now available only by direct download from Apple’s support website.

Mountain Lion’s New Security Update Feature – Good For Users, A Potential Headache for IT

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Will Mountain Lion's new security system be a hit or a miss for schools and businesses?
Will Mountain Lion's new security system be a hit or a miss for schools and businesses?

Following the Flashback malware scare this spring, Apple is stepping up its focus on security and malware protection in Mountain Lion. The release notes for the latest Mountain Lion developer preview include references to a “new Mountain Lion Security Updates system” that checks for security updates on a daily basis, uses a more secure connection when communicating with Apple’s update servers, and can install required updates automatically when a Mac is restarted.

Based on the release notes for the system, Apple is making the security update process automatic and has designed it to  runs as a system process rather than a user task. Presumably that means it will function without a user logged in or while non-admin users are logged in. All in all, that’s similar to Microsoft’s Windows update feature and a good thing for users.

That doesn’t mean that this setup will be great fit for businesses, schools, and other organizations with large Mac populations.

New MacBook Air Gets Its Own Brand New Update

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MacBookAir1

So, a mere two days after Apple quietly released an update for its brand-spankin-new MacBook Pro, the magical company is doing it again. This time, the as-yet-released MacBook Air is the target of a new software update.

From the Apple Support site:

About MacBook Pro (Mid 2012) Software Update 1.0
This update is recommended for MacBook Pro (mid 2012) models.

The update includes fixes that improve graphics stability, external display support, and USB 3 device support.

Sound familiar? That’s because these are the same fixes that Apple reported for the MacBook Pro model. Sounds like someone announced these babies just a bit before they were totally ready? Ah, well, at least it’s all fixed. Right, Apple?

Via: MacNN

Apple Releases Trackpad Update For New Retina MacBook Pros

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Screen Shot 2012-06-12 at 1.16.56 PM

Apple’s been releasing a surprising number of updates for their next-gen Retina MacBook Pros… all the odder given the fact that pretty much no one has one. We can only assume there are some software kinks that still need working out, which is why — following last night’s software update — Cupertino has just released a new update for the trackpad to “address an issue where the trackpad may not respond consistently to user input.”

If you have a Retina MacBook Pro — which you almost definitely don’t — go grab it.

Source: Apple

Apple’s Latest Thunderbolt Update Is Causing Boot Failures, Kernel Panics & More

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If you haven't already done so, don't install this Thunderbolt update on your Mac.
If you haven't already done so, don't install this Thunderbolt update on your Mac.

A Software Update for Thunderbolt was just one of many Apple releases that went public yesterday, but unlike the rest, you should be in no hurry to pick this one up. Many users who have installed the update are reporting that it is causing boot failures and more on their Mac.

Brand New MacBook Pros Get Update

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If your Retina MacBook Pro isn't delivering the battery life you expected, try this simple fix.
If your Retina MacBook Pro isn't delivering the battery life you expected, try this simple fix.

You know those MacBook Pros that were announced today? Well, apparently there’s already an update out for them.

As can be seen in the linked Apple Support web page, the MacBook Pro (Mid 2012) Software Update 1.0 is available now, in case, like, anyone owns one. Which they do not.

According to the support site, “the update includes fixes that improve graphics stability, external display support, and USB 3 device support.” Which is fantastic for all those folks that bought one and are just wasting away without stable graphics or solid USB 3.0 abilities. Which, you know, they aren’t.

Source: Apple Support

New Windows Conficker Infections Put Flashback In Perspective, Offer Warning

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Continued Conficker threat offers perspective/warning on Mac malware
Continued Conficker threat offers perspective/warning on Mac malware

News, information, and commentary of the Flashback malware threat has ricocheted around the web over the past few weeks. The news of dangerous Mac malware has spread from the Apple and tech media into the mainstream. While not downplaying the seriousness of the threat, a Microsoft announcement yesterday does offer some perspective.

Microsoft made it clear that the Conficker worm is still infecting millions of PCs worldwide – three years after fears about Conficker’s potential damage and the estimated level of infections (estimates ran as high 12 million PCs at the time) created a media frenzy.

Apple Issues Second Java Update In Two Days Following Infection Of 600,000 Macs

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Keep Java updated on your Mac to eliminate threats from the Flashback trojan.
Keep Java updated on your Mac to eliminate threats from the Flashback trojan.

Apple has issued a second update to Java in just two days this week as the company works to patch vulnerabilities that have led to the infection of over 600,000 Macs. The Java for OS 2012-002 update is now available to download via Software Update, and it’s recommended that you update.

Apple Improves iPhoto Stability With 9.2.3 Update

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iPhoto-logo-large
iPhoto 9.2.3 promises to improve stability and address random quitting.

Apple has released iPhoto 9.2.3 today, a minor update which adds no new features, but promises to improve stability and address an issue that could cause the application to quit unexpectedly on machines with multiple user accounts.

Apple Releases Logic Pro & Logic Express 9.1.7 Updates

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Apple fixes bugs and improves performance with Logic Pro and Logic Express 9.1.7.
Apple fixes bugs and improves performance with Logic Pro and Logic Express 9.1.7.

Apple has released updates to its Logic Pro and Logic Express music editing software today, improving the stability of both applications and addressing minor issues that may have plagued some users in the previous release. The version 9.1.7 updates are available to download now from the Mac App Store, or via Software Update.

All iOS Devices Lie When They Say Their Battery Is 100%

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Although it takes forever to fully charge, the new iPad costs less than $2 a year to run.
Unplug your iPad just after it reaches 100% and you'll lose up to 1.2 hours of battery life.

Shortly after the new iPad made its debut earlier this month, it was discovered that the way in which the device calculates its battery life is flawed. Despite telling you its charge is at 100%, your device hasn’t actually finished charging.

New data proves that in fact, your device isn’t finished charging until more than two hours after it reaches “100%,” and if you unplug it before then, you could lose around 1.2 hours of battery life. What’s more, it seems all iOS devices misreport their battery life.

Apple’s Software Update Gets A New Security Certificate That Could Trip Up OS X Server

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Lion Server (and Snow Leopard Server) Software Update Server may experience problems beginning tomorrow
Lion Server (and Snow Leopard Server) Software Update Server may experience problems beginning tomorrow

Apple uses digital certificates and code signing in various ways to help keep Macs secure. One common example is that apps sold through the Mac App Store are digitally signed, which allows an individual Mac to know that it’s getting the genuine article when a user launches the App Store app. It also allows a Mac to ensure that an application hasn’t been tampered with by a malicious user or a piece of malware each time that app is launched (Mountain Lion’s Gatekeeper feature will be based on the same technology).

The same process is used with Apple’s Software Update servers. Each update from Apple is digitally signed using a certificate that let’s each Mac know that they’re getting genuine updates from Apple.

Digital certificates are designed to expire periodically and tomorrow, March 23, 2012, the certificate associated with Apple’s Software Update functionality will be expiring. Apple already has a new certificate ready that won’t expire for seven more years (2019). The transition to the certificate will be transparent for almost all Mac users, but it may create problems with some OS X Server installations.

iTunes Producer Is Now Available Through Software Update, Is iTunes Going Indie?

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iTunes Producer is usually reserved for big shot label moguls, but right now, you can play with it too.
iTunes Producer is usually reserved for big shot label moguls, but right now, you can play with it too.

Indie musicians have long had a difficult time getting accepted into iTunes, but it’s possible that’s coming to an end. Apple has just released it’s iTunes Producer 2.6.0 software update to a number of users, despite the fact that it has historically only been available to musicians, record labels and other partners of Apple’s iTunes Connect portal.

Only 50% Of iPhone 4S Owners Say iOS 5.1 Has Improved Their Battery Life

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iPhone-battery-low
Even under iOS 5.1 the iPhone 4S struggles to stay awake.

On Monday, we asked iPhone 4S readers how Apple’s latest iOS 5.1 software has impacted their battery life. The new handset is notoriously poor at staying alive for a whole day, but those pesky bugs affecting its battery life were, according to Apple, quashed in the recent software update.

Nearly 6,000 readers voted in our poll, and here are the results.

iPhone 4S Users Around The World Report Frequent Loss of Service For No Apparent Reason

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iPhone-no-service

It seems early iPhone 4S adopters the world over have discovered a new issue with Apple’s latest handset. No, it has nothing to do with poor battery life, but rather a complete loss of signal for no apparent reason. To be clear, this isn’t a new “antennagate” — the issue does not occur while holding the device in a certain position — it’s a new problem that causes the device to lose its signal randomly. Users report they can be enjoying a full five-bar signal one minute, then be greeted by that frustrating “No Service” status the next.